Plantation Crops Response to Climate Change: Coconut Perspective

Abstract

Plantation crops, mainly coconut, rubber, tea, coffee, oil palm, areca nut, cashew, and cocoa, are grown in ecologically sensitive areas such as coastal belts, hilly areas, and areas with high rainfall and high humidity. Among these coconut is a major multi-utility crop that plays a signi fi cant role in the economy of the countries, including 10 million farming communities in India. Climate change will affect coconut plantation through higher temperatures, elevated CO 2 concentration, precipitation changes, and increased weeds, incidence of pests and disease, and increased vulnerability of organic carbon pools. Unlike in seasonal crops, the impact of climate change will have long-standing ill effects in coconut since it is a perennial crop. In general, various approaches are used to mitigate risks associated with seasonal climate variability, including the adoption of the tolerant crop varieties and best management practices. In this chapter the response and adaptive strategies of coconut are discussed with respect to climate change and its associated consequences.

Transcriptome Analysis of Cocos nucifera L. Seedlings Having Contrasting Water-Use Efficiency (WUE) under Water-Deficit Stress: Molecular Insights and Genetic Markers for Drought Tolerance

“…Climate change is expected to increase mean annual temperatures, decrease the precipitation and sea water incursions in coastal and low lying areas. Plantation crops being perennials and having relatively long gestation period to yield economic produce are under major threat to water-deficit stress due to decline in precipitation [9,10]. In this context, the traditional coconut growing regions are expected to see a shift in area coverage owing to reduced rainfall in future climate scenario [9].…”

“…Plantation crops being perennials and having relatively long gestation period to yield economic produce are under major threat to water-deficit stress due to decline in precipitation [9,10]. In this context, the traditional coconut growing regions are expected to see a shift in area coverage owing to reduced rainfall in future climate scenario [9]. Hence, it is pertinent to develop climate-smart coconut which can withstand water-deficit stress [11,12].…”

Mitigating the repercussions of climate change on diseases affecting important crop commodities in Southeast Asia, for food security and environmental sustainability—A review

“…They are sensitive to heat stress particularly during pollen development as the morphology can be seriously altered, thus giving rise to a lower pollen viability. The coconut biomass is reported to have reduced by 10% at high temperature (3 • C above ambient) while the cumulative effect of dryness and high temperatures resulted in 16% reduction in biomass (Hebbar et al, 2013).…”

Unlocking the inherent potential of plant genetic resources: food security and climate adaptation strategy in Fiji and the Pacific

“…High temperatures are also conducive for rapid multiplication of the burrowing nematode R. similis (Jeger et al 2017 ). Some authors (Hebbar et al 2013 ; Kumar and Aggarwal 2013 ) assert that high temperature can affect coconut production either positively or negatively, depending upon the geographical area under consideration and the phase of development. Increased sensitivity of plants to high temperatures is reported during the reproductive than vegetative phase (Hinojosa et al 2018 ).…”